gratitude activities

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High-Way 7 - #3: Gratitude Streams

Supplies Needed: None Objective: To practice an easy way to stay grateful all day long 1) (Write on the board before beginning: )

The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.

- Robert Louis Stevenson 2) (Read aloud slowly or paraphrase: ) For today’s activity, we’re going to go around the room and invite each person to share something they’re grateful for from the past 24 hours. The only two rules are: you may not say the same thing as any other student and you may pass if you can’t think of anything. I’ll start… (Note: No one has to say, “I’m grateful for…” at the beginning of their gratitude. That’s assumed. Also, if someone says, “My family,” it’s still all right for someone else to say, “My little brother.” ) 3) (When finished, discuss: ) - How did that feel? - When are five times during a normal week that you could use the Gratitude Stream to feel better? (Write their answers on the board. Some may include…) - In the car or bus on the way to school - Before getting out of bed - Before meals - In the shower - In the bus on the way to or from a competitive event - Before going to sleep - On your way to your favorite class 4) Is anyone willing to do a gratitude stream once a day for a week and come back and report to us how it goes? (You can give a prize, treat, etc. for those who do…)


High-Way 7 - #4: The Gratitude Drill Supplies Needed: none Objective: To improve in the skill of finding things to be grateful for everywhere we look 1) (Write on the board before beginning)

You’ve never met an ungrateful person who was happy, nor have you ever met a grateful person who was unhappy.

- Zig Ziglar 2) (Read aloud slowly or paraphrase: ) For this activity we’ll need five volunteers to come up to the front of the room and form a circle. (Once they’re in place, continue) Today we’re going to learn how to do a Gratitude Drill. The person with the longest hair will begin by saying one thing they’re grateful for. Then the person to their left will share a different thing they’re grateful for in three seconds or less. If they can’t think of one before I clap my hands (or ring a bell) OR if they repeat one that’s been said, then they’ll have to sit down. If someone says, `My family,’ it is still all right for someone else to say, `My little brother.’ Any questions? (Begin the gratitude drill. If everyone gets “out” really quickly, you can bring up five new students to do it.) (It’s fun to give prizes for whoever is still standing 2-3 minutes later. Be prepared! The second or third time you do this, you will not get anyone “out” for the entire time, so you’ll need lots of prizes!) 3) (If you have time, discuss the following: ) - Is it possible to run out of things to be grateful for? - How does it feel when we focus on things we’re thankful for? Note: Students are phenomenal at this activity and it always feels good, so do it often and with different students each time!


High-Way 7 - #14: The Best Thing About…

Supplies Needed: One copy of Worksheet #14A Objective: To help students practice focusing on what they are grateful for 1) (Write the following on the board before beginning: )

Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness; they are the gardeners who make our soul bloom.

- Marcel Proust 2) (Read aloud slowly or paraphrase: ) In other activities we’ve talked about everyone and everything in life being Half Jerk and Half Jewel. In other words, there’s always something to complain about and something to be grateful for! Today we’re going to play a game where we’ll split the class into two teams. I will read a list of things or people’s names (like, “Oprah”) and each person has to say one good quality or thing they appreciate about that person or thing within three seconds. If they are successful, the team gets a point. If they are not, the team has to pass and the other team gets to answer about that same person or item. If the answer seems even a little bit sarcastic or insincere, the team will have to pass. For example, if I said, “Trees,” you could answer: - They slow the wind or - They clean the air or - They give a home to the birds Any questions? (Split the classroom down the middle and have all the students stand on either side of the room near the wall facing forward.) All right, now one person steps forward to answer, after their turn, they go to the back of the line. (If someone doesn’t want to play, they can help you by being your human “buzzer” after 3 seconds.) (Begin reading the items on Worksheet #14A one at a time. When you get to the end of the list the winning team gets bragging rights!)


High-Way 7 - #14A: The Best Thing About…

Students have three seconds to complete the phrase, “The best thing about ___ is.” Repeats or mimicking of a previous answer will cause them to lose their turn!

1. Our country 2. Our planet 3. Dogs 4. Birds 5. Rainy days 6. Shopping Malls 7. Parents 8. My body 9. My book bag 10. Television 11. My name 12. Cars 13. This classroom 14. My hands 15. This school 16. This town/city 17. My neighborhood 18. Kleenex 19. Music 20. Movies 21. My brain 22. The President 23. Computer Games 24. Cell Phones 25. Mondays 26. Sundays 27. Today 28. Right Now 29. Boys 30. Girls 31. Teachers 32. Sisters and Brothers 33. Paper Clips 34. Rubber Bands

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